title: Contralateral C7 transfer in adult plexopathies.
abstract: In the current study, a retrospective review of 56 patients with posttraumatic root avulsion brachial plexus injuries who underwent contralateral C7 transfer using the selective contralateral C7 technique is presented. The intraoperative findings of the involved brachial plexus, the surgical technique of preparation of the donor C7 nerve root, and the various neurotization procedures are reported. The surgical outcomes as well as the potential adverse effects of the procedure are analyzed. We conclude from this study that the selective contralateral C7 technique is a safe procedure that can be applied successfully for simultaneous reconstruction of several different contralateral muscle targets or for neurotization of cross chest nerve grafts for future free muscle transplantation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Eastern Virginia Medical School, 700 Olney Road, LH 2055, Norfolk, VA 23501, USA. jktmd1@aol.com
authors.forename: Julia K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Terzis
authors.forename: Zinon T
authors.initials: ZT
authors.lastname: Kokkalis
authors.forename: Epaminondas
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kostopoulos
mesh_terms: D000063:Accidents, Traffic; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001917:Brachial Plexus / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery*; D020516:Brachial Plexus Neuropathies / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015601:Injury Severity Score; D008875:Middle Aged; D009068:Movement / Q000502:physiology; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000294:innervation / Q000601:surgery; D016067:Nerve Transfer / Q000379:methods*; D020127:Recovery of Function / Q000502:physiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012677:Sensation / Q000502:physiology; D013126:Spinal Nerve Roots / Q000601:surgery*; D034941:Upper Extremity / Q000503:physiopathology; D055815:Young Adult